Posts Tagged ‘Entry’

I love a good entrance, especially one that makes a fabulous first impression! The entry to a home is like an appetizer for the gorgeous rooms you’re about to see. So in my farmhouse project, recently featured in Traditional Home, I wanted to set the tone here for the rest of the home. This is a farmhouse, but it’s a chic one that’s family friendly, too. That’s why I did a checkerboard pattern on the entry floor instead of a rug – it’s a gorgeous design, but it’s also easier with kids running in and out all day.

This house was a new build, so I was able to add a lot of the traditional elements you might see in a much-older Southern farmhouse, like the molding details, and the fun oval window on the stairs. I love the shape, and it adds so much light.

And here is also where I started using the lovely aqua that you see throughout this home. It not only envelopes the front door, but it’s also painted on the ceiling of the front porch. A blue color on the porch ceiling is a big tradition in the South!

You can see here how I also introduced subtle farmhouse details, like gingham on the chair and stair runner, a traditional balustrade, and a vintage wooden horse.

This corner right behind the door will give guests a view into the dining room, too, so I wanted to give it a bit of punch and also tie the entry into the adjoining room’s decor.

I did that by introducing the chocolate brown that’s another signature color in this home’s palette. And I used a fabulous painting of an old farmhouse with a tin roof as a nod to the history of this family and their own modern-day farm.

What do you think of this fun entrance? And what does your home’s entry say to visitors? Let me know in the comments section below!

The entry really sets the tone for your entire house! It welcomes your guests and gives them clues for what lies beyond in your home! I love to create bright and bold entries like the one in my office. It features a gorgeous blue sofa from C.R. Laine and a colorful painting by one of my favorite artists, Jane Booth – and you’ll see it in this week’s video.

In my previous home, I used a daring and graphic wallpaper by F. Schumacher to create a real statement, and to showcase the color story that continued right into my family room. I can’t wait to show you the entrance to my new house, too! Meanwhile, let’s talk about my best tips for designing a welcoming space in your home:

Let’s recap those tips for creating an entry with style:

If you do go bold with your wall color, tone everything else down by using neutral trims and furnishings. Don’t let too many bright colors compete in such a small space.

For two-story entries, consider an overscaled wallpaper. It gives a grand appearance, but brings the scale down to a more normal height. Add in an amazing light fixture and a stair runner, and you’ll have an entry that is full of style!

Using the same color in all of your entry’s furnishings and accessories, like navy with white, gives a coordinated look that is classic and timeless.

If you want to create drama, use a bold and graphic wallcovering. That will definitely set the tone for your stylish home!

Use these tips to design an entry that has a “wow” factor and sets the mood for your guests. Please share this video with your friends, and let me know what you’ve done to create an amazing entry to your home!

Until next time!

xo,

For more tips and ideas, be sure to check out my YouTube Channel, featuring every episode of Tobi TV!

I love to think about the entrance to a home as the perfect chance to make an amazing first impression on guests and family. This is the first thing most people will see in your home, and you want them to get a good idea of the gorgeous house they’re about to see, right? So no matter if you have a tiny foyer or a grand entryway, you want this space to speak volumes!

The entry in my client’s house above already had good bones. The front door had gorgeous windows around it and there was a beautiful sweeping staircase. It just needed an update to give them a contemporary look rooted in traditional pieces, something they loved from all the boutique hotels they’ve stayed in around the world.

And they really wanted that first impression to make a bold statement that showed their style and personality. The one piece from the original space that they did love was the brass light fixture that you can see below.

To give them that bold but fashionable look, I used a Nina Campbell wallpaper, and I took it up all the way to the top of the two-story entry, giving them a sweeping entrance that complemented that fabulous staircase.

We also removed the black flooring and replaced it with a much more sophisticated marble tile, which also took advantage of all the fantastic light from that front door.

Finally, I added some lovely color with the turquoise glass lamps, and highlighted the subtle gold in the wallpaper with a mirror and a demilune that had the same color in its details. The result is a chic space that says a lot about what guests will see in the rest of the home!

So what do you think about this bef0re-and-after? And are you also inspired by boutique hotels? Let me know in the comments section below!

I love that patriotic palette of red, white, and blue – they are perfect colors for summer! Each one gives a room a different energy, so as we head into the holiday weekend for the Fourth, I thought it would be fun to show you my favorite rooms I’ve designed in each flag-waving color.

First up is the hallway above, in Sherwin-Williams Tomato Red. The color was inspired by the fabric on the chairs in the entry and in the dining room – and I love the way it energizes the space!

On the opposite end of the energy scale is this cool, clean, and calm white room. I designed this dining room to be an edited and crisp space, so Sherwin-Williams Shoji White was the perfect white for that goal. It really makes the red pop in the room, doesn’t it?

To round out our red-white-and-blue salute, this bedroom is one of my favorite blue spaces. It’s a chic and serene bedroom that includes this little desk nook. Sherwin-Williams Krypton was the perfect blue for this dreamy getaway!

So what do you think of my favorite flag-hued rooms? I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at red, white, and blue, and I wish you and your family a fun Fourth weekend!

By the time you read this, I should be back into my new house because yesterday was moving day! It’s been so much fun to watch the last few details get nailed down and put into place as we hit the home stretch over the last few days. I have never seen so many hard-working people helping me get this house ready and pull off my move.

One thing in my house that is a serious workhorse this week (and will be for years to come) – but rarely gets the glory – is all of the lovely flooring. We have traipsed dozens of boxes, appliances, sofas and more across them already and they are just getting started supporting all our activities in our newly remodeled home.

The beautiful black-and-white Emser Tile in my entry literally made me jump up and down – it’s just that pretty! It’s called Times Square so it reminds me of my favorite city and I just love this classic look. It’s clean and sophisticated, and it will really make a statement for guests as they enter my house. ProSource has been a fabulous sourcing partner to help me find the perfect look for each room and they have the best vendors who have been such a joy to work with!

If you’ve been paying attention to this regular column of mine, you may have also seen a hint of what the floors in my kitchen and wet bar just might be, too!

A little like another of my favorite places, this floor is reminiscent of a Paris Bistro. And though it looks like marble, it’s glass. This cool new product from Daltile looks great and doesn’t show anything, especially dirt and lint. I LOVE it!

And upstairs in the guest bath, these grey marble hexagon tiles from Speartek give the room a soft glow. It’s another classic look that really makes an impact, even if it isn’t the first thing you’ll notice in this room.

There are so many pretties on the floors of this house, I can’t decide my favorite, but in the running is definitely the fabulous Daltile mosaic floor in the master bathroom! Don’t you just love that classic Greek key motif around the border?! It is such a stunning design and turned out even better than I imagined!

And don’t forget all the gorgeous AND eco-friendly wood floors from Shaw in a warm color called “Wheat Penny.” They cover a lot of my home. With our allergies, pets, and kids, I definitely wanted the old, dirty carpet that came with the house out of there and sleek and beautiful hardwoods in its place. Now just walking up my stairs and seeing hardwoods span the length of the house and into my yoga room makes me feel more calm and relaxed. Namaste Shaw Flooring!

So what do you think about my new floors so far? Do you like the classic look of black and white that runs through much of the house? Give me your comments in the section below!